Bayern chief lifts lid on Klopp regrets after "swift decision" to reject manager

Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admits he regrets the decision to hire Jurgen Klinnsmann as manager in 2008 – after the club held productive talks with Jurgen Klopp.

The German giants were on the lookout for a new manager after Ottmar Hitzfeld quit the club to take charge of the Switzerland national team.

Bayern were in good shape heading into the 2008/09 campaign, having secured a Bundesliga and German Cup double, and they interviewed several candidates including Klopp.

The charismatic Klopp was available after quitting Mainz, where he had built up a reputation as one of German football's most promising managers.

And Rummenigge has now revealed that then club president Uli Hoeness held talks with Klopp but, despite a positive meeting, the move failed to materalise.

"Uli was in talks with Klopp at the time. We had to make a swift decision and then we agreed to get Jurgen (Klinnsmann)," Rummenigge told ZDF Sport.

Klopp ultimately joined Borussia Dortmund that same summer, where he went on to win two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup and two German Supercups.

Meanwhile Bayern instead swooped for former striker Klinnsmann, whose only managerial experience at the time was two years as the German national team's boss.

The 1990 World Cup winner, however, struggled in Munich and was ultimately sacked just nine months into his role.

And Rummenigge admits he regrets the decision to hire the German icon.

He added: "I was partly responsible for bringing Jurgen Klinsmann on as a coach. Unfortunately, that didn't work.

“That was also due to FC Bayern, but it just didn't work. I'm very sorry. It wasn't a good decision for both parties."

Klinnsmann has struggled to forge a successful career as a manager, spending five years as the US national team boss before a short sting at Hertha Berlin.

Klopp, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the finest managers of his generation.

He joined Liverpool after leaving Dortmund and has guided the English giants to memorable Premier League and Champions League triumphs.

The Reds have endured a tough title defence this season – but there's no doubting Klopp's standing as one of the all-time greats.

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